Disclaimer: Twilight related things belong to S.M. Everything else is me.
They had reached Portland in record time with Alice's amazing detection of cops. She must have been speeding over 100mph down the I-5 but Rosalie kept Bella from glancing at the dashboard, always distracting her or getting in the line of her vision.
"Bella, a little trust?" Alice said narrowly missing a car when she glanced back at Bella. Bella had her seatbelt on and was grabbing her seat and car door until her knuckles turned white. Oh my God I'm going to die.
"Watch the road Alice!" Bella hissed as Rosalie giggled in the passenger seat seemingly unbothered by Alice's driving.
"I've never once received a speeding ticket Bella. And most never wrecked any vehicle I've ever driven," she turned up her nose as if insulted by Bella.
"It's almost noon Alice," Rosalie mentioned softly. "Are you hungry Bella?"
"I think if I ate now, it'd just come straight back up," Bella slowly relaxed her grip as Alice took an exit slowing down slightly as the cars grew more congested in the city.
"You'll like it here. There's tons of places to eat, and shop. Have you been here before Bella?" Alice suddenly pulled into a parking garage.
"No. I've never been outside Washington," Bella followed behind Rosalie and Alice, feeling significantly under dressed.
"The best thing about shopping here is the no taxes," Rosalie mentioned as they boarded an elevator to the shopping level. Bella looked at the subtle map of the building and saw designer boutiques on every floor of the building. They can't be serious. She took a closer look at their clothing and realized they were well dressed in designer clothing. They dressed like models instead of students. How old are they anyway?
"Can I ask how old you guys are? I mean you look about my age but at the same time..." Bella trailed off.
"We both go to Forks High School Bella. Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper are eighteen and seniors, and Edward and I are seventeen. We're, um, twins. Rose and Jasper are the the golden twins," Alice added with a smirk when Rosalie gave her an exasperated look.
"Ah, I see. I'm seventeen too. But they did put me a year back saying I needed to catch up," Bella suddenly held back, not explaining further earning a quizzical look from Rosalie. She didn't explain that she missed a lot of school because she was in the hospital a lot or hiding. Suddenly Alice hugged her taking her by surprise. She didn't ask questions but just silently held Bella until the elevator dinged.
"We're here!" Alice led Bella towards a boutique seemingly at home. When Bella looked up she took a step back. Chanel? Were they joking? How much did Carlisle make a year exactly?
"I'll just wait here," Bella perched herself on a plush arm chair and watched Alice and Rosalie dart around the store grabbing clothing to try on with an attendant looking extremely flustered with the growing pile of clothes in her arms.
"Would you like something to drink Miss?" A different attendant asked.
"Huh?"
"Give her a glass of something fruity will you Claire?" Alice smiled sweetly before walking towards Bella. "We come here a lot and give them a lot of business so we get the VIP treatment even though we're not famous or anything," explained Alice.
"Wow," Bella flinched when the attendant suddenly appeared with a champagne flute with a pink fruity liquid in it.
"Don't worry it's not alcoholic. Alice did mention you all go to high school," the attendant smiled and left after placing a napkin under the glass.
"Thank you ma'am," Bella said taking a sip of the drink and breaking into a smile.
Rosalie and Alice tried on various other clothing, bags, and accessories while Bella watched from her seat, trying hard not to fidget. She itched to read a book while she waited but remembered she left all her books to burn in the fire.
"Let's go Bella," Alice linked her arms through Bella's as they walked into a few more boutiques. A few of the attendants glanced at how Bella was dressed and smirked but once they saw Rosalie and Alice they were quick to attend to her.
"How about these shoes?" One held a pair of six inch heels that Bella stared at from the sheer impossibility of her ever wearing one without breaking something.
Bella wandered around the store on her own gazing at the many intricate shoes. She lifted a pair up to look for the price tag that usually sat on the bottom but was just left with the smooth red bottom of a signature LouBoutins. Since the price tag was not stickered to the sole, Bella assumed that it took some several months paycheck to pay for a pair.
As she wandered through the well lit store she looked down at her ratty tennis shoes now and then, feeling embarrassed. This wasn't her world. She was merely a visitor.
"Alice," Bella looked sheepishly at Alice.
"Yes Bella?" Alice looked up from the leopard print shoes she was currently trying on.
"Do you mind if I go to a book store while you guys shop?" Bella asked, and Alice's eyes seemed to glaze over as though she was lost in a dream, then as quickly as she had spaced out, her eyes became alert.
"Sure. There's a Barnes and Noble just next to this building. Rose and I could meet you there, or we could go together after this," Alice said.
"No it's okay. I'll just be at the bookstore, take your time," Bella smiled at the thought of being immersed with books for the next few hours.
"Okay, we'll see you in a bit then. Be safe," Alice said facing her squarely willing her to not run away.
"I will. I will see you soon," Bella promised knowing what Alice wanted her to promise. A look of relief washed over Alice, then she perked up.
"Oh wait. Here," Alice reached into her purse to pull out her wallet. Bella knew what she was trying to do and tried to race out of the store but alas, luck was not on her side. She tripped over her own two feet. Some well dressed passersby gazed at her quizzically while the store attendants seemed to be holding back laughter.
Without a word Bella pushed herself up from the floor and made her way down to the elevator. When the doors shut, she smacked her own forehead. Way to call attention to your own clumsiness.
The elevator dinged at the lobby and Bella made her way out of the building and saw that the bookstore was indeed right next door. When she took in the brisk air of the city, she felt energized. Maybe she would go for a walk instead and head back to the bookstore later.
Portland was buzzing with more action than she had ever seen in Washington. There were so many stores, and Bella could see why Alice insisted on driving so far when Seattle was much closer. The cold nipped at her nose and ears, so she pulled the hood up while she walked around the city, never straying from the main avenue.
As she walked through the busy streets she could see the sun start to set and the evening rush picking up as people left to go home. The warm storefronts appeared welcoming but Bella never went in but just gazed inside observing people having dinner or shopping. After awhile Bella noticed that it was completely dark now. The sun had set quickly and she would have to start heading back to the bookstore if she didn't want to worry Alice and Rosalie.
When she turned around a slight panic set within her. The street didn't look the same. She must have taken a turn somewhere without meaning to, or maybe the darkness changed how the street looked. She walked quickly in one direction then abruptly turned when she thought she was at an unfamiliar crosswalk and bumped into someone.
"Sorry," Bella mumbled.
"Sorry," the other person muttered at the same time with such venom Bella took a step back to take a look at the person she accidentally bumped into. All she saw was a messy head of hair that glinted red in the storefront light.
"What's your problem," Bella's anger suddenly flared at this stranger's attitude.
He paused but didn't turn around. Bella glared at his back while people continued to walk around them not noticing the stand off. To her surprise he turned around.
"Nothing, I'm sorry for my terrible attitude. Would you like to grab some coffee with me? If you aren't busy?" His voice was smooth as velvet and Bella found herself stepping closer to him.
-x-
Alice suddenly dropped a pair of sunglasses and they clattered on the counter top. Rosalie appeared at Alice's side wondering what had cause Alice to lose focus.
"What's wrong Alice?" Rosalie shot her sister a worried look.
"Bella," Alice whispered her eyes still glazed over.
"She went to the bookstore," Rosalie said quizzically.
"No! Edward!" Alice dashed out of the store and Rosalie glanced apologetically at the attendant and followed Alice out of the store.
-x-
"We just passed by the coffee shop," Bella said pointing behind her as she followed this beautiful man around the corner.
"There's a special one I go to all the time around here," he said leading her off the main street.
"Oh," Bella continued to follow him, wondering what had possessed this hot man to have coffee with her. She bumped into his back not noticing he had stopped abruptly, "Sorry again."
"It's fine," he chuckled then led her to a smaller avenue where it was darker and there were no other pedestrians. Instead of feeling frightened or nervous as all the bells and whistles went off in her mind, Bella felt oddly comfortable with this stranger.
"Coffee?" She said weakly reminding him of their walk when he suddenly had her backed into the wall as though he wanted to kiss her. When she saw his face up close, she studied him from his strong square jaw, his perfect lips, his strong perfect nose, then noticed his eyes. They were bright red. Seriously what is it with colored contacts these days?
He inhaled deeply and smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He slowly leaned in closer his lips grazing her ear and she shuddered and closed her eyes.
"EDWARD! STOP," Alice screamed. Bella frowned, why did Alice have to spoil this. Wait a minute. Edward?
In the same second he disappeared and was running in the opposite direction.
"Are you okay Bella?" Rosalie asked while looking in the direction that Edward had left for.
"I'm so sorry Bella," Alice looked as though she wanted to cry.
"About what? What's wrong Alice?" Bella grabbed Alice's tiny shoulders willing her to look up at her eyes.
"I should have seen this," she wailed.
"We should head back," Rosalie said softly and they slowly walked back towards the garage.
A/N: What Edward's hunting people! Badward! Thanks for reading! Review!